A renowned teacher and writer of the acclaimed "The Spirit of the Disciplines, "Dallas Willard, one of today's most brilliant Christian thinkers now offers a timely and challenging call back to the true meaning of Christian discipleship. In "The Divine Conspiracy, "Willard gracefully weaves biblical teaching, popular culture, science, scholarship, and spiritual practice into a tour de force that shows the necessity of profound changes in how we view our lives and faith. In an era when many Christians consider Jesus a beloved but remote savior, Willard argues compellingly for the relevance of God to every aspect of our existence. Masterfully capturing the central insights of Christ's teachings in a fresh way for today's seekers, he helps us to explore a revolutionary way to experience God--by knowing Him as an essential part of the here and now, rather than only as a part of the hereafter.

"The most telling thing about the contemporary Christian," Willard writes, "is that he or she has no compelling sense that understanding of and conformity with the clear teachings of Christ is of any vital importance to their] life, and certainly not that it is in any way essential . . . Such obedience is regarded as just out of the question or impossible." Christians, he says, for the most part consider the primary function of Christianity to be admittance to heaven. But, as Willard clearly shows, a faith that guarantees a satisfactory afterlife, yet has absolutely no impact on life in the here and now, is nothing more than "consumer Christianity" and "bumper-sticker faith."

Willard refutes this "fire escape" mentality by exploring the true nature of the teachings of Jesus, who intended that His followers become His disciples, and taught that we have access "now" to the life we are only too eager to relegate to the hereafter. The author calls us into a more authentic faith and offers a practical plan by which we can become Christ-like. He challenges us to step aside from the politics and pieties of contemporary Christian practice and inspires us to reject the all too common lukewarm faith of our times by embracing the true meaning of Christian discipleship.

An interesting interpretation on living a Christian life

4

This is a well written interpretation of what it means to live a Christian life, and not just call oneself a Christian without living it. Fairly easy to read, given that the subject of Christian living is a complex one. Dallas Willard is obviously a very well educated and well read man.

Megsie

Canberra

2017-01-25

The Divine Conspiracy

4.01

0.0

""In Search of Guidance" and "Spirit of the Disciplines . . ." these books along with the work of Richard Foster and other kindred souls, have already sparked a modest renewal movement . . . But as good as they are, they do not prepare the reader for the power of Willard's new book. With "The Divine Conspiracy, " Willard joins the line of Thomas ? Kempis, Luther, Fenelon, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, Zinzendorf, Wesley, Frank Laubach, Dorothy Day, and other master apprentices of Jesus . . . What distinguishes "The Divine Conspiracy" from many works in this genre is an extraordinary combination of simplicity and depth . . . If you read only one book in 1999, make it this one."-- "Christianity Today""This book belongs in the tradition of the great devotional classics . . . The comprehensiveness of his study, its accessibility, its fervor, its freshness of phrasing, and its command of Scripture should prompt Christians to give this book serious attention. And it's a book that will help seekers better understand why Jesus continues to elicit the loyalty and commitment of people the world over."-- "Christian Century" "All of Dallas Willard's books merit careful attention, but this goes to the heart of the matter. To be a disciple is to be a disciple of Jesus, living in his presence to learn from and become like him. Just as the disciples did in the Gospels."--Christianity Magazine "With The Divine Conspiracy, Willard joins the line of a Kempis, Luther, Fenelon, Brother Lawrence, Zinzendorf, Wesley, and other master apprentices of Jesus . . . What distinguishes The Divine Conspiracy is an extraordinary combination of simplicity and depth . . . If you read only one book, make it this one."--Christianity Today "Willard is a master at capturing the central insight of Jesus' teachings. . . . Rarely have I found an author with so penetrating an intellect combined with so generous a spirit."--from the Foreword by Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline "I consider "The Divine Conspiracy" to be the most important book in the field of Christian spirituality written in my lifetime."--Richard J. Foster, author of "Celebration of Discipline" I consider "The Divine Conspiracy" to be the most important book in the field of Christian spirituality written in my lifetime. --Richard J. Foster, author of "Celebration of Discipline"" Willard is a master at capturing the central insight of Jesus teachings. . . . Rarely have I found an author with so penetrating an intellect combined with so generous a spirit. --from the Foreword by Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline" This book belongs in the tradition of the great devotional classics . . . The comprehensiveness of his study, its accessibility, its fervor, its freshness of phrasing, and its command of Scripture should prompt Christians to give this book serious attention. --Christian Century" With The Divine Conspiracy, Willard joins the line of a Kempis, Luther, Fenelon, Brother Lawrence, Zinzendorf, Wesley, and other master apprentices of Jesus . . . What distinguishes The Divine Conspiracy is an extraordinary combination of simplicity and depth . . . If you read only one book, make it this one. --Christianity Today" All of Dallas Willard s books merit careful attention, but this goes to the heart of the matter. To be a disciple is to be a disciple of Jesus, living in his presence to learn from and become like him. Just as the disciples did in the Gospels. --Christianity Magazine" "The Divine Conspiracy shaped an entire generation."--Scot McKnight, author of The Blue Parakeet "Passionate insights . . . thoroughly argued."--Library Journal "A Christian classic that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath with Augustine's Confessions and Brother Lawrence's Practicing the Presence of God."--JP Moreland, author of Love Your God with All Your Mind "I consider The Divine Conspiracy to be the most important book in the field of Christian spirituality written in my lifetime."--Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline "This book belongs in the tradition of the great devotional classics . . . The comprehensiveness of his study, its accessibility, its fervor, its freshness of phrasing, and its command of Scripture should prompt Christians to give this book serious attention."--Christian Century "I consider The Divine Conspiracy to be the most important book in the field of Christian spirituality written in my lifetime."--Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline

Foreword

p. ix

Introduction

p. xiii

Acknowledgments

p. xix

Entering the Eternal Kind of Life Now

p. 1

Gospels of Sin Management

p. 35

What Jesus Knew: Our God-Bathed World

p. 61

Who is Really Well Off?--the Beatitudes

p. 97

The Rightness of the Kingdom Heart: Beyond the Goodness of Scribes and Pharisees

p. 129

Investing in the Heavens: Escaping the Deceptions of Reputation and Wealth